What's in those woods?
Discovery Days at Eaglecrest returns next week
Discovery Southeast kicks off its Discovery Days at Eaglecrest Ski Area Oct. 15 and 16, as part of its fall and winter curriculum for Juneau students.
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"We run Discovery Days similar to our Outdoor Explorers day camp. During school in-service days and other holidays, kids get to go out with naturalists and explore a new place. It provides another in-depth opportunity for kids to connect with nature during another season" said Beth Weigel, executive director with Discovery Southeast.
This is the second year the organization has held exploratory days up at the city's local ski hill, and Weigel said the curriculum, geared toward students ages seven through 12, is going to let Autumn take the lead.
"We're focusing on Eaglecrest as a year-round destination as well as a winter sports destination," she said. "So it's a really great time of year to look at things that are decaying - fungus, and bacteria, and how the forest is changing."
Weigel said the group will most likely also hike the Fish Creek trail and talk a little bit about the history of Douglas Island's largest watershed.
"That watershed is quite big and obviously there's mining history that ties into that. The ditch that was dug up there, and then the water that was diverted all the way to south end of the island to generate electricity for mining," she said.
But more importantly, Weigel said she just hopes kids come away with a broader understanding of how they fit into Mother Nature's bigger picture.
Richard Carstensen, a senior naturalist with the program who has been with Discovery Southeast from it's beginnings twenty years ago, said that wasn't always the case.
"When we started discovery 20 years ago, I was mainly interested in content, basic identifications. But the more I worked with young folks, I realized the real mission of Discovery is to increase people's comfort level in the outdoors."
That comfort comes from understanding. Who might have left that pile of pine cone scraps? Where might they live? And look at that scat. I wonder why there's berries in it?
"They're always very excited to discover there's things going on, in winter time in particular," Weigel said. "It's pretty fun just to watch them be kids in nature. And to see their minds working and to hear them starting to ask questions. It's great to see their joy."
Two more Discovery Days will be held this year. One will be on a Monday in February and another around students' spring break in March.
Weigel said the curriculum for those days will echo similar aspects of last year's days at the ski hill.
"Mountain safety, winter ecology, tracking and we had the kids go over and work with Juneau Mountain Rescue in the beacon park (as well)," she said.
The program, supported by members, organizations, businesses and corporations is funded completely on donations, grants, fundraising and product sales. It is open to all students in the area and offers an alternative for parents who most likely be tied up at work.
Weigel said there are still openings for next week's "days" and that pick-ups are scheduled at various schools around town, but participants need to be registered to participate.
To do so individuals can call 463-1500 or get more information online atwww.discoverysoutheast.org.